Expert: Ran - 5/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: I know this is an older version of Corel Draw, but I hope someone can help.  I am drawing lines that represent subsurface formations in a geological cross section.  I have no problem drawing the line, but after I have done several lines, and saved them, I sometimes need to go back and either delete one of the lines or alter one of the lines.  There must be a way to do it, but I have not yet found it.  Please help someone.  Thank you very much

Paul

ANSWER: Hi Paul

What you ask sounds very easy but I am guessing it is more difficult because you have several lines close together which makes selection more difficult.

CorelDraw has not altered its selection methods since version 1, so your older version won't be a problem.

I recommend you get used to using F2 and F3 for zooming in and out, because it is much faster than mucking around with the magnifying glass tool (which I never use).

Selection of your line with the standard arrow (called the Pick tool) is ok if you want to expand, rotate or delete your line. However the next tool down (the Shape tool) is probably more useful because you can shift the line more precisely. To delete a line, just select it with the Pick tool and press the Delete key.

There are many many possibilities for extremely fine control of your lines with the Shape tool. May I suggest that you spend an hour or two figuring the options out, perhaps some of the videos at coreldrawtips.com might help, starting with this one:
http://www.coreldrawtips.com/workspace/

If you have other objects obscuring your view of the lines, choose View/Wireframe. In this view you need to click objects' outlines to select them.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I appreciate your response.  I have the CorelDraw 1998.  I did as you directed
and went to the pick tool to select the line, but it did not select the line.  I
found no "shape tool".  I would think that, although I have an older version of
the software, I should be able to delete a line or alter the line.  Any other
ideas?  Thanks

Paul

Answer
Hello again

If you cannot select an object at all it sounds as if your object layer may be locked. I didn't mention this in my original answer because I thought if you knew how to lock a layer, you could also unlock it! However if you are editing somebody else's drawing this could be the problem . . .

To fix this, open the Object Manager (Layout/Object Manager or View/Dockers/Object Manager).

By default all of the objects on your page will be on the layer called Layer 1. If the pencil icon to the left of where it says "Layer 1" is greyed out, this will cause the symptoms you describe. Click the pencil to enable you to select objects again.

By the way, the Pick tool is the standard arrow tool and the Shape tool is the one just below it in the toolbar. You can also get to the Shape tool by pressing the F10 key.

I have just tested the above in CorelDraw 8 from 1997, so I would guess you are using CorelDraw 9 (Until the latest version, X4, the versions are numbered with integers, not years. X4 is roman-numeral-esque for 14, presumably to funk it up, to be more appealing to schoolchildren with low attention spans).